Despite lots of individuals doing their best to “be green,” many may not realize that there’s one behavioral change that they don’t even realize they’re missing out on.

What many don’t know is that a mobile phone charger, when plugged into an outlet, can use up to as much power as an AC outlet, even if your phone is not charging. True story.

As a serial “leave everything plugged in,” person, I was shocked when I read this news. However, have no fear – AT&T (News - Alert) is working hard to offer a charger that will lend itself to those looking to be more efficient.

This May, the phone provider will be releasing the ZERO charger, a device that will recognize when no phone plugged into it and will disconnect the power from the AC outlet automatically to avoid parasitic power loss.

According to Carlton Hill, vice president of Devices and Product Development for AT&T's wireless operations, in an effort to provide environmentally friendly and simpler solutions for our customers, AT&T worked hand in hand with Superior Communications (News - Alert) to create the first practical and user-friendly zero-draw charger for mobile phones.

“With the size of AT&T’s customer base, providing solutions like these helps our customers make a big difference,” Hill said.

With this device, some of the power wasted by chargers that are plugged in with no phone attached – that could ideally power 24,000 homes per year – will be salvaged.

Available exclusively with AT&T devices only, Verizon (News - Alert) will have to do some serious work to balance this out, with the influx in green technology and the desire to dominant all markets. 

According to reports from the Daily Tech, the wireless provider doesn’t mention the price for the charger, but states it will cost the same as a replacement charger today.

The charger is also made using green packaging and promises to work with other mobile phones for years to come.

Kelly McGuire is a TMCnet Web editor, covering CRM and workforce technologies, and anchor of its daily TMC Newsroom video broadcast. Kelly also writes about eco-friendly 'green' technologies and smart grids, compiling TMCnet's weekly e-Newsletters on those topics, as well as the cable industry. To read more of Kelly's articles, please visit her columnist page.

Edited by Kelly McGuire